Green Recognition Program

Schaumburg’s C GAP (Comprehensive Green Action Plan) established goals for the village to advance sustainability throughout the community. One of the goals of the Education and Outreach component of C GAP is to “Create a recognition program to support and promote the green actions taken by businesses and residents.”

Schaumburg's Environmental Committee established the Green Recognition Program in 2010.

Eligible Categories

Energy Efficiency

Renewable Energy

Conservation of Natural Resources

Recycling Programs and use of Recycled Content Products

Green Product Use and use of Recycled Content Materials

Water Conservation

Transportation

Outreach and Education

Other Innovative Projects and Programs

Continuous improvement (awarded after a minimum of 2 years from first award)

How to Apply

To be eligible for the award, the property must be in compliance with village ordinances and codes. Projects no older than three years may be submitted for consideration.

Applications are accepted for residential and non-residential properties located in Schaumburg, and may be submitted by property owners, business owners, and by others who feel a project or site deserves recognition. For multifamily developments, applications should include whole buildings or sites; not individual units within a building.

Community Development staff will present all applications to the Environmental Committee for their consideration. The Environmental Committee will then refer the recommended awardees to the Health and Human Services Committee for final approval by the Village Board. Residential and non-residential nominees will be selected on an annual basis.

Applications will be kept on file for future consideration for a period of no more than two years from the date of submittal. Applications for continuous improvement will be considered only after a period of two years from the first award.

Applications are due by April 21, 2015 for consideration by the Environmental Committee. Awards will be presented by the Village Board in June 2015.

The Environmental Committee proposed to name the Green Recognition Award in honor of Mayor Al Larson, giving it the title The Al Larson Environmental Award. Schaumburg’s Village President, Al Larson has been a champion for the environment for many years. In 1971/1972 the Environmental Committee began as an unofficial volunteer citizens organization called the Clean Environment Committee. Al Larson served as one of the first members of the committee.

The Clean Environment Committee established recycling programs in their early years. In 1973/1974 Mayor Bob Atcher made the committee permanent as the Village of Schaumburg Environmental Committee and appointed Al Larson as the Chairperson.

In the early 1970s Al Larson began a long time commitment to the preservation and promotion of the Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary. Al Larson is one of the founding members of the Spring Valley Nature Club and a signer on the club constitution which was drafted in 1974. He was the second recipient of the Ellsworth Meineke Award in 1977 for his demonstrated extraordinary efforts to preserve our living heritage. He served in many positions on the Spring Valley Nature Club Board as well as a Director and continues his service today by contributing articles to, and as Editor of the Spring Valley Nature Club newsletter “News Leaf.”

In 1975 Al Larson was elected as a Trustee and served as a Trustee until he was elected Mayor in 1987. Throughout his term as Village President, Mayor Larson has continued his support for the environment. In 2001, the Village Board adopted a Resolution of Support for the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan and directed staff to prepare a biodiversity recovery plan for the village. In 2004, the Village Board adopted the award winning Village of Schaumburg Biodiversity Recovery Plan. In 2008 the Village Board approved the Villageof Schaumburg Comprehensive Green Action Plan as a further commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.